Going Barefoot: A Lost Key Mystery (Lost Key Mysteries Book 1) by Jeff Hutcheson

Author:Jeff Hutcheson [Hutcheson, Jeff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pneumanaut LLC
Published: 2021-05-12T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30

Seize the Day Café

The car glided into an empty spot, fourth space from the door. Bailey secretly believed that she had the power to manifest the ideal parking space. She knew, somehow, she had created this perfect slot on her drive to the café. However, she didn’t account for the longer and heavier convertible, needing more room to park than her Jeep. Before she realized it, the front end nudged across the narrow sidewalk and crashed into a small planter fresh with spring flowers.

“Oh no!” she said.

She quickly reversed the car, so it wasn’t blocking the walkway to the front door and pushed the gear shift lever into park. She scurried around the front to assess the damage. Despite her thorough scan, she could find no evidence of an accident. The car looked undamaged. She breathed a sigh of relief, glad she had purchased the extra insurance option. Whew! Impressive.

However, embarrassment flooded Bailey when she saw that the hand-crafted, rectangular planter had held its last flowers.

Mark walked up. “Whoops.”

“I better let the manager know.” Great, that will surely impress him now, Bailey, she mumbled to herself.

Dark clouds gathered, cooling the heat of the Mobile day and threatening a downpour. Thunder rumbled, promising to make good on that threat.

“Looks like rain coming,” Mark said.

“You think?” Bailey shot back playfully.

They strolled up the steps and went inside. The aroma of fresh ground coffee greeted them. It was clear the Seize the Day Café used to be an old house. The downstairs had been transformed from a large living room into a cozy assortment of tables and chairs, with wooden bookshelves. Various conversations converged in a low hum. Folks seemed respectful that some people came here to read, wanting a quieter place, and somewhere more “hip” than the library. They quickly spotted the ordering counter off to the right and back just a bit. Delicious goodies and tasty treats sat on delicate doilies in the glass counter-top case. Bailey’s mouth watered at the thought of biting into the lightly glazed cream cheese pastry. She resisted the temptation.

“My treat. What’ll you have?” Mark offered.

“Café Pecan Mobile, French press, of course.”

“Excellent choice. I’ll have the same.”

“I’ll go find us a table,” Bailey said.

Outside on the porch, a young girl was just packing up her papers and finishing her work. Bailey hurried to claim their spot.

Shortly after, Mark brought the drinks.

“I thought it would be nice to sit out here,” she said. “You mind? The rain will cool things off.”

“Perfect. Nothing like the scent in the air just after a summer storm.”

Bailey could already smell the approaching rain. Mark sat down and placed her coffee on the table in front of her. After a couple of minutes, they slowly pressed down the mesh plunger, creating a perfectly brewed cup of hot Café Pecan Mobile.

She lifted her mug to toast. “To the rain,” she said.

“May it pour.”

They clinked their mugs.

Pour it did. Hard at first, then slow and steady. The rain cooled the hot air and plinked steadily against the coffee shop’s tin roof, soothing and relaxing.

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